20 September 2019 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Five-year-old gelding Call Me Hector is now officially the quickest pacer to race on Tasmanian soil when the Matthew Cooper-trained and driven pacer broke the Tasmanian and Hobart track record with a slick 1m 54.3s victory in Hobart last night.
The previous state record of 1m 54.5s was shared by Ryley Major (Hobart 16/06/19) and Mister Lennox (Launceston 14/05/17).
Last night from barrier four, driver Matthew Cooper was keen to find the lead on the $2.10 favourite and bowled along in quarters of 28.7s, 28.4s, 28.9s and 28.2s.
“I knew he was running along and I thought I would just let him run,” said Cooper.
Cooper said pre-race that the gelded son of Art Major just lacks a fast-finishing sprint and is best suited when driven tough, and that’s exactly what Cooper did.
“He can keep running 29 (second) quarters and he felt that strong down the back I gave him a tap on the bum and went for home,” said the winning trainer-driver.
Call Me Hector is out of the Mach Three mare Lady Jillett Lombo which makes Call Me Hector a half brother to last season’s George Johnson winner Call Her Julie who also did an outstanding job in Cooper’s care.
“They are similar horses, they are tough, have a good heart, they just like running and you don’t have to work them hard,” explained Cooper.
Call Me Hector defeated Star Chamber by 6.4 metres with Blackbird Power a further 6.8 metres away third, the first five placegetters in the event were all driven along the pegs.
Adelaide Bay winning in Hobart on 18 September 2019.
Later in the night, the Marc Butler-trained Adelaide Bay broke his maiden status with a 14.2-metre victory in the Tasmanian Veterinary Services Pace.
The gelded son of Auckland Reactor is still learning the racing game, causing a tough drive once again for Ricky Duggan.
“Marc (Butler) changed a bit of gear on him to try and get him to settle but that didn’t work, so we will go back to the drawing board with that,” said Duggan.
“He feels alright and he has a bit of a motor, he just has to learn what it is all about as he is still not doing things 100%,” the master driver added.
Duggan drove a double on the card, he partnered Witch Master in the opening race for his brother Adrian.
Todd Rattray recorded a training and driving double on the card with five-year-old mares Karpenkova Leis and Bremusa.
Another trainer to record multiple wins was Rohan Hillier who prepared Boss Major in race two with stable junior driver Conor Crook in the sulky before Im Barney Rubble scored in the claiming race of the night.
The Daryl Bates trained Streetside Classic registered his first win since March 2018 with an all the way win in the Go Racing Tasmania Pace courtesy of a brilliant front running drive by Gareth Rattray.
Pink Ponder caused the biggest upset of the night when the Ben Yole-trained mare used the Roberts Sprint Lane to score at odds of $47 with Rohan Hadley in the sulky.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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